Report: Clips bring back Mbah a Moute; Rockets targeting Anthony

The Los Angeles Clippers agreed with Houston Rockets forward Luc Mbah a Moute to a one-year, $4.3 million deal on Monday, according to an ESPN report.

Mbah a Moute spent the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons with the Clippers before joining the Rockets last season. The 31-year-old averaged 7.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 25.6 minutes per game across 61 games (15 starts) in Houston.

Per the report, the Rockets are now determined to sign forward Carmelo Anthony once he becomes a free agent, after losing both Mbah a Moute and Trevor Ariza to free agency this month.

That duo served as two of the Rockets' best defenders, with the ability to match up with guards and forwards in the team's switch-heavy scheme. Ariza joined the Phoenix Suns on a one-year, $15 million deal earlier this month, more than double the salary he made last season.

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NBA players who changed teams this offseason

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NBA players who changed teams this offseason

DeAndre Jordan

Old team: Los Angeles Clippers

New team: Dallas Mavericks

(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Austin Rivers

Old team: Los Angeles Clippers

New team: Washington Wizards

(Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)

Marcin Gortat

Old team: Washington Wizards

New team: Los Angeles Clippers

(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

LeBron James

Old team: Cleveland Cavaliers

New team: Los Angeles Lakers

(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Omri Casspi

Old team: Golden State Warriors

New team: Memphis Grizzlies

(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

Trevor Ariza

Old team: Houston Rockets

New team: Phoenix Suns

(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Nik Stauskas

Old team: Brooklyn Nets

New team: Portland Trail Blazers

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Lance Stephenson

Old team: Indiana Pacers

New team: Los Angeles Lakers

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Javale McGee

Old team: Golden State Warriors

New team: Los Angeles Lakers

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Doug McDermott

Old team: Dallas Mavericks

New team: Indiana Pacers

(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Ed Davis

Old team: Portland Trail Blazers

New team: Brooklyn Nets

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Mario Hezonja

Old team: Orlando Magic

New team: New York Knicks

(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

Rajon Rondo

Old team: New Orleans Pelicans

New team: Los Angeles Lakers

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Jose Calderon

Old team: Cleveland Cavaliers

New team: Detroit Pistons

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

DeMarcus Cousins

Old team: New Orleans Pelicans

New team: Golden State Warriors

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Julius Randle

Old team: Los Angeles Lakers

New team: New Orleans Pelicans

(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jeff Green

Old team: Cleveland Cavaliers

New team: Washington Wizards

Photo by Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Tyreke Evans

Old team: Memphis Grizzlies

New team: Indiana Pacers

Photo by Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Wilson Chandler

Old team: Denver Nuggets

New team: Philadelphia 76ers

(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dwight Howard

Old team: Charlotte Hornets

New team: Washington Wizards

(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Tony Parker

Old team: San Antonio Spurs

New team: Charlotte Hornets

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Seth Curry

Old team: Dallas Mavericks

New team: Portland Trail Blazers

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jonas Jerebko

Old team: Utah Jazz

New team: Golden State Warriors

(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)

Isaiah Thomas

Old team: Los Angeles Lakers

New team: Denver Nuggets

(Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)

Jeremy Lin

Old team: Brooklyn Nets

New team: Atlanta Hawks

(Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Kyle Anderson

Old team: San Antonio Spurs

New team: Memphis Grizzlies

(Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)

Kenneth Faried

Old team: Denver Nuggets

New team: Brooklyn Nets

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Garrett Temple

Old team: Sacramento Kings

New team: Memphis Grizzlies

(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Ben McLemore

Old team: Memphis Grizzlies

New team: Sacramento Kings

(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Demar DeRozan

Old team: Toronto Raptors

New team: San Antonio Spurs

(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Jakob Poeltl

Old team: Toronto Raptors

New team: San Antonio Spurs

(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Kawhi Leonard

Old team: San Antonio Spurs

New team: Toronto Raptors

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dennis Schroder

Old team: Atlanta Hawks

New team: Oklahoma City Thunder

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Mike Muscala

Old team: Atlanta Hawks

New team: Philadelphia 76ers

(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Carmelo Anthony

Old team: Oklahoma City Thunder

New team: ???

(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jared Dudley

Old team: Phoenix Suns

New team: Brooklyn Nets

(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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Anthony is currently a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the two sides are reportedly working on parting ways, whether through a trade, a buyout or waiving via the stretch provision. Anthony is likely to become a free agent even if he is traded, as his new team would likely waive him.

Multiple reports on Sunday said Rockets guard Chris Paul wants Anthony, a good friend of his, to join the Rockets, while Anthony is also believed to have interest in joining LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Miami Heat are also reportedly interested in adding Anthony.

The 34-year-old posted career lows in points (16.2 per game), shot attempts (15.0) assists (1.3) and minutes (32.1) in 78 games (all starts) last season while playing primarily power forward instead of small forward.

The Clippers on Monday also officially announced the re-signing of guard Avery Bradley, whose deal was reported last week as a two-year, $25 million pact.

"We are very excited to bring Avery back to the Clippers," president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said in a statement. "He is an elite competitor, tenacious defender, and a very effective offensive player, who fits the identity of our organization and the profile of a tough, serious player that is committed to winning. Avery's intensity and proven work ethic will have a direct impact on the performance and personality of this team."

Bradley appeared in six games with the Clippers after arriving in the Blake Griffin trade last season, averaging 9.2 points before having season-ending surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Recognized as a top wing defender, Bradley, 27, has averaged 12.3 points over his eight NBA seasons, the first seven of which were with the Boston Celtics.